As the third age continued the Valar grew increasingly concerned Sauron might still
pose a threat, as his lifeforce was connected to the One Ring of Power, which was lost but
never destroyed.
Although elves, men and dwarves were able to unite and defeat the Dark Lord during the
Second Age, most believed the threat was gone and so would be unprepared for his return.
When the Valar first descended from the timeless halls, they took mastery over the world, shaping
it as they desired in preparation for the awakening of the Children, unique and intelligent
beings created by Eru Iluvatar.
When the First Dark Lord waged his wars, poisoning their labors and threatening the Children,
the Valar felt compelled to offer their protection, marching their armies to war.
Yet they soon realised that direct interference resulted in drastic repercussions felt all
across the world.
Though their strength was indeed sufficient to defeat and destroy the First Dark Lord
Melkor, it also led to the reshaping of continents causing countless deaths and mass devastation.
Since Sauron was nowhere near as powerful as his master Melkor, and had already been
defeated by the children on their own, the Valar felt it unwise to involve themselves
directly, and instead created the Istari, a team of 5 Maiar in the form of elderly Wizards,
tasked with organizing and preparing Middle-earth for their war against the Second Dark Lord.
Knowing that Sauron was once a faithful Maia, just like the Istari, the Valar understood
the temptations awaiting them, as they would be surrounded by being incapable of magic,
and so could easily use their powers to make themselves kings.
Making this threat even more dire, was the possibility that one of the Istari might come
to possess the one ring and succumb to its corruption, becoming yet another Dark Lord
seeking the conquest of middle-earth.
In order to minimize this threat, the Valar forbid the Istari from overt use of their
powers or facing the Dark Lord directly, and had them take the form of elderly men, so
they could speak to Elves, humans and dwarves as equals.
Arriving around the year 1000, the blue wizards Alatar and Pallando took charge over the east
of Middle-earth, joined briefly by the White Wizard and leader of their order Saruman,
who then returned to the West where he worked with the Gandalf the Grey to foster and maintain
alliances.
Gandalf was the wisest and most powerful of the Istari, but also the most humble and mild
mannered, learning compassion from the Vala Nienna, lady of mercy.
In order to prepare for their mission Gandalf spent centuries wandering around middle-earth,
getting to know it’s people, and doing so learned about their history and politics,
making many friendships and contacts which later proved crucial for victory.
The final wizard Radagast the Brown, was sent on behalf of the Vala Yavanna, and so dedicated
himself to the preservation of wildlife, only participating in the affairs of his colleagues
when absolutely necessary.
As the decades went on and the Istari spread throughout Middle-earth, a strange evil took
possession of Amon Lanc, forcing the wood elves to relocate further north where they
built Elvenking’s Hall.* Renamed Dol Guldur, the former elven stronghold came to be ruled
by a being called the Necromancer, whose corruption spread throughout the Greenwood, hence forth
renamed Mirkwood.
Though no one knew it at the time, the Necromancer was Sauron, who needed a base of operations
to assemble his servants and send them on missions to weaken their enemies however possible.
Fearing the evil spreading throughout the forest, many of those living in the area migrated
away, like the harfoot clan of the hobbit people, who left the valley of the Anduin
to cross the mountains and settle in eriador.
As the centuries went on, they were joined by other hobbit clans like the Fallohides
and Stoors, with most eventually settling in and around the Shire.
*some say he had the help of dwarves, others say he didn’t*
Meanwhile, in the lands of men, the Dunedain at last achieved a lasting victory against
the Haradrim of the south, when King Ciryaher emerged from Umbar and led his forces to conquer
their last great enemy, bringing Gondor to the height of its power and peak of their
Golden Age.
Renamed Hyarmendacil, meaning south-victor, the last of the great ship kings ruled until
his death in 1149, and was succeeded by his son Atanatar II.
A man who cared nothing for the administration of the realm, and spent his life delighting
in the power and wealth he inherited.
Due to his neglect, the Golden Age of Gondor soon came to an end and their influence slowly
began to diminish.
Much like Atanatar II, his son and heir Narmacil had no interest in ruling over the realm,
however the realm was fortunate to have his nephew Minalcar, a promising administrator
and military commander who was named Regent and given charge over the Kingdom.
Learning of a rebellion in the east, Minalcar worked with the northman tribes of Rhovanion
living in and around the Greenwood forest.
After defeating the Easterlings, Minalcar changed his name to Romandacil and returned
home, having made a number of new friendships and alliances with the men of the North.
Two years later in 1250 TA, the Regent sent his son Valacar as an ambassador to live under
Vidugavia, the self titled King of Rhovanion, leader of their largest tribe.
When King Narmacil died childless decades later in 1294, his younger brother Calmacil
inherited the throne, but he was too old for the position and so left his son Romandacil
as regent, until he too passed away in 1304.
Though he had been ruling over Gondor for over 50 years, Romendacil at last inherited
the title of King, which he held until his death in 1366.
Although the Dunedain of Gondor were emerging from a golden age of prosperity, their kin
in Arnor were not fairing as well, having divided into three realms, constantly at war.
Taking advantage of this vulnerability, a being known as the Witch King of Angmar established
himself in the fortress of Carn Dum, gathering an army of orcs and hill-men, all the while
using spies and informants to keep Arnor divided.
Though many feared the threat he posed, none knew he was leader of the Nazgul and Lieutenant
of Sauron, who disappeared for over a thousand years after the wars of the Second Age.
Now settled in Dol Guldur, Sauron began his longterm strategy of weakening the Dunedain
in anticipation of his return to power.
The Witch King therefore established himself in the North with the goal of utterly destroying
the realms of Arnor.
When King Argeleb inherited the rule of Arthedain, there was a brief hope that peace might follow,
as the royal lines of Cardolan and Rhudaur were no more, meaning he was the last descendant
of Isildur with a claim the entire Kingdom.
Yet while Cardolan recognized this reality and accepted his rule, Rhudaur was ruled by
servants of the Witch King, who refused and pledged themselves allies of Angmar.
Sending their combined forces to face the armies of Arthedain in the battle of weather
hills, the Witch King achieved a great victory, killing King Argeleb.
However his son and heir Arveleg continued the struggle, gaining reinforcements from
Cardolan and their Elven allies in Lindon, to push back the enemy and retake the Weather
Hills.
Forming a defensive line in case of another attack, the Witch King momentarily halted
his advance south and moved east, laying siege to Rivendell in the hopes of crushing this
ally of his enemy before they could join in the war effort.
Although the Elves emerged victorious when Lord Elrond brought reinforcements from Lothlorien
to help lift the siege, the Witch King’s larger strategy succeeded as he distracted
the Elves and prevented them from sending aid to Arnor.
With the Eastern Elves busy fighting in Rivendell the Witch King next sought to eliminate Arthedain’s
greatest ally, and so sent an army against the front line forces at Amon Sul in 1409,
while another host attacked Cardolan directly.
Achieving another great victory, the forces of Angmar succeeded in killing both the Prince
of Cardolan and King Arveleg of Arthedain, in addition to capturing Amon Sul, pushing
towards Fornost, occupying Rhudaur and conquering all of Cardolan save for the capital city
of Tyrn Gorthad.
Yet this was as far as the Witch King’s forces could extend and they soon faced the
Elves of Lindon who joined young King Araphor of Arthedain in a counter offensive, pushing
back the enemy at Fornost and liberating Amon Sul.
Lord Elrond then arranged for more reinforcements from Lothlorien, which combined with those
from Lindon to attack Angmar and strike a blow so devastating it took centuries to recover.
Though they survived the invasion, Arnor was a shadow of their former selves, with Rhudaur
gone and Cardolan on the verge of collapse.